Gas Prices Draw Carpoolers Together

May 19, 2006|By Michael Turnbell transportation Writer and Business Writer Tom Stieghorst contributed to this report.

When the state expanded Interstate 95's high occupancy vehicle lanes to Palm Beach and Broward counties in the early 1990s, officials hoped to convince solo commuters to break their rock-solid attachment with their cars.

They largely failed, because drivers had plenty of arguments against carpooling.

Jobs are spread out. Few people go to work at the same time. Hardly anyone wants to ride with a stranger.

But employers are enticing some commuters to rethink their old driving habits.

To ease the cost of commuting, 85 South Florida companies offer perks like free gas to carpoolers. Steve Neginsky started carpooling at the beginning of the year to save money on his 50-minute commute from Lake Worth to Weston.

His employer, Ultimate Software, began encouraging its 500 employees to share rides in January.

Each carpool gets a free tank of gas every month, paid for by the company, and parking spaces close to entrances. Six groups representing about two dozen employees have signed up so far.

"It's definitely easier on your car and on your wallet because of the gas prices," Neginsky said. "But when you drive with someone else, you can't just go when you want. You have to adjust."

About 30 percent of U.S. companies are helping their employees deal with high gas prices, according to a recent survey by the Society for Human Resource Management. That was up from 19 percent in late August and early September when gas prices soared to $3 a gallon after Hurricane Katrina.

"It becomes a great recruiting tool just like any other benefit," said Jim Udvardy, director of South Florida's carpool agency.

"Certainly, if you're going to consider working for two companies and one offers to pay for half of your gas going to work, you'd probably pick that company over the other one," he said.

At the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Manalapan, $20 gas cards get distributed every 28 days to workers who promise to average three carpool trips a week over six months.

"We have more than 100 participants," said Crissy Poorman, a spokeswoman for the hotel that employs about 450 people.

The hotel started the program in January to give its international seasonal employees, most of whom don't have cars, a ride to work and help them get to know co-workers at the same time. "It was a better option than public transportation," Poorman said.

Ritz-Carlton's program also has an emergency ride home feature that gives carpool participants a complimentary taxi voucher for unscheduled overtime, or if another problem keeps them late.

"What people are finding is that it's nice to have someone to ride to work with," Poorman said.

The gas cards are icing on the cake. "With gas prices today, it's very helpful," she added.

South Florida Commuter Services averaged 3,000 Web site hits a month last year. In April, nearly 16,000 people visited the site.

The agency promoted Thursday as a "commuter challenge day" by encouraging everyone to carpool, ride the bus, train or a bike, or walk to work just for a day.

Udvardy said the increased interest in carpooling by commuters and their employers is a sign that people are losing their resistance to sharing a ride. It comes as soaring gas prices eat away at a bigger chunk of workers' incomes.

Although Udvardy normally makes the 13-mile trek from Davie to his office alone, he decided to see what it's like to share a ride for a week.

The irony isn't lost on someone who makes his living trying to nudge others into alternatives to driving.

"It's important to practice what you preach," Udvardy said. "My wife and I used to carpool, but since she had moved to another position, it didn't make it convenient for us."

Udvardy used South Florida Commuter Services' database to find Andrew McGee of Davie and Amy Wylie of Plantation.

All three work in the same office complex near Commercial Boulevard and State Road 7 in Fort Lauderdale. After exchanging e-mails, they agreed to carpool.

Udvardy drove the first day, arriving a few minutes early to pick up McGee. Udvardy waited 10 minutes before wondering if he'd been stood up.

"It is extremely important when you carpool with someone to make clear and concise arrangements," Udvardy said.

McGee, who moved to Davie from Indianapolis six months ago, said he turned to carpooling to save on gas. It costs about $45 to fill up his Jeep Wrangler.

"Every little bit helps," said McGee, a marketing coordinator. "I've gotten over that mindset hurdle that most people think they can't leave their car behind. I used to think it was a big deal before I started doing it, but now it's not a big deal."

Business Writer Tom Stieghorst contributed to this report.

Michael Turnbell can be reached at mturnbell@sun-sentinel.com or 561-243-6550.

SHARING RIDES

Tips from Jim Udvardy, director of South Florida Commuter Services:

Be on time and considerate of others' travel plans.

Get cell phone numbers of your fellow carpoolers.

Consider verifying each other's driver licenses and insurance coverage. If you do it as a group, no one should feel singled out.

Meet at a park-and-ride lot or a public place like a shopping center if you don't feel comfortable going to each other's homes.

To find people in your neighborhood interested in carpooling, register at www.1800234ride.com.